Spring balance



May 11 1926.

c. c. WHITE srama unmet Filed Dec. 15. 1923 Patented May 11 1926.

Uhll'lfill STATEd ATE'l." @EFlQE.

CHARLES C. W'I-IITE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPRING BALANCE.

Application filed December 15, 1923. Serial No. 681,020.

pawl and ratchet which are provided for adjusting the tension of the'spring; in which provision is made for reversing the spindle so that the adjusting means thereon may be rendered accessible from either side of the case to adapt the device for use on the right or left-hand sides of a bed; which is simple in construction, efficient in operation and can be produced at a low cost.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective of a device embodying the invention, the form shown being adapted more particularly as a spring balance for a wall-bed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section. Fig. 3 is a section through the cross-bolt which secure. the case and cover together. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the body of the case- Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the cover of the case. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the spindle, around which the drum rotates. Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

The invention is exemplified in a spring balance which is designed for wall-beds. A case or frame is provided and this comprises a body formed of a bottonrwall 8 with integral side-walls 9 which may, if desired, be formed of sheet metal and a top wall or cover 10, which is adapted to extend across and fit between the upper margins of sidewalls 9. The top 10 is secured to the body by a bolt 11 which extends through holes 12 in sides 9 and ears 13 which extend downwardly from top 10. A spacing sleeve 15 fits between ears 13 and around the shank of bolt 11 to space the sides and prevent the nut on the. bolt from buckling top 10. A spacer Sleeve 16 is also interposed between the head 15 of the bolt and the outer face of one of the sides for the pawl 17.

A spindle 20 is removably and rotatably held in the case and is adapted to be inserted n position to retain the drum therein at the rnner ends of slots 21, which are formed 60 111 sides 9 of the body and are open-ended so that the spindle with the drum thereon may be inserted into the body through one end thereof' Spindle 20 is formed with grooves 23 and 24 into which the edges of 6 21 fit, so that the spindle will be the slots held against axial movement relatively to the case while it is held in said slots.

The rotatable drum is made up of a pair of disk-like sides 25, outer margin, an inwardlyextending flange 26; and a ring 27 which is held between sides and flanges 26. Each drum-side 25 is also formed with a flange-28 forming a hub which engages and is adapted to rotate 7 5 around a bushing which comprises a flange 29 rotatably mounted around a shoulder 30 on the spindle 20 and an outwardly extending flange 31 which spaces the drum-side from one of the case-sides 9. Sides 25, with 80 their flanges 26 and 28, are preferably formed of sheetanetal and bushings 31 may be similarly formed. A flat convolute spring 33 has its outer end provided with a hook slot 35 in the drum-ring 27 and with a hook 36 at its inner end to fit into either of the longitudinally extending grooves 37, 37 in the spindle 20. A tape 38 or other suitable fiexible element is adapted to be taken up of the tape being fixed to the drum, and the other end'is provided with a'suitable loop 40 for connection to the bed or other part to by the drum, one end be operated thereby. The spindle is held to 95 keep the spring 33 under tension by a ratchet wheel 41 which fits, and is suitably secured on, the square or polygonal end 4L3 which is integrally formed with the spindle 20, so

that the spindle will be rotatable only with 100 the ratchet, and a pawl 17 which engages the ratchet and is pivotally held on the spacer 16 between bolt-head 15and the casebody. By applying a wrench or suitable key to the square portion 43 ofthe spindle, 05

the ratchet may be. turned to wind, upltlre 9 to form a free pivot each having at its terminal 34 to engage the edge of a wrapped around and spring and increase its tension and the re sultant force applied through tape 38 to the bed or other part. By lifting the pawl out of engagement withthe ratchet, the spindle will be released for retraction to decrease the tension on spring 33 when that is desired.

In using these balances on wall-beds, it is desirable to apply one-to each side of the bed, and in order to have the ratchets where they will be readily accessible at both sides of the bed, and to make the devices applicable with the ratchets accessibly disposed, the spindle 20 is reversible in the drum and in the case. To adapt the spindle for connection with the hook-portion 36 of the spring in either of its positions, it is provided with oppositely extending grooves 37 and 37, which are angled relatively to one another, so that the inner end of the spring can be hooked to the spindle while the latter is in either of its positions. Bolt 11, with its spacer 16, is also reversible, so that the pawlvmay be positioned adjacent either side of the case. The drum may also be reversed on the spindle wherever that may be necessary to properly position and put the drum under the tension desired for use in difierent places.

Pawl 17 is positioned so that itwill' hold the ratchet wheel and spindle at the inner ends of slots 21, so that separate retaining devices are unnecessary, the tension of the tape applied to the drum coacting with the pawl in holding the. spindle and drum in operative position.

The invention exemplifies a spring balance, which is readily adjustable so that the tension of the spring=drum may be readily varied as may be necessary. The construction permits endwise insertion of the assembled drum and. spindle int-o operative position in the case. The spindle, drum, ratchet, and pawl are all reversible to adapt the device for use in different lo'- cations. The drum is constructed of parts which can be easily assembled to enclosethe spring. The case is formed of members which may be formed of sheet metal. The bolt, which provides a pivot for the pawl, serves to secure the top and casing-body together. The device throughout is simple in construction, adapted for use in different places and can be produced at. a low cost;

The invention is not. tobe understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified withinthe scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinventien.

Having thus described. the invention, what I claim as new and. desire to secure by LettersLPatent, is:

i. In a spring balance, the: combination of an PEII IldQd casecomposedot sides and a bottom, th asides. having slots, tlaerein extending to one end thereof, a spindle rotatable in said slots, a drum mounted on thespindle, said spindle being removable sidewise from said slots with said drum assembled thereon for reversal of its ends in the slots, a spring for operating the drum connected to the spindle, a ratchet reversibly and non-rotatably held on said spindle, and means to hold the ratchet against rotation in one direction when the spindle is in either of its alternative positions.

2. In a spring balance, the combination or an open-ended casecomposed of sidesand a bottom, the sides having slots therein extending to one endthereof, aspindlerotatable in said slots, a drum mounted on the spindle, said spindle-being. removable sidewise from said slots with said drum assembled thereon for reversal of its vends inthe slots, a spring for operating the drum connected to "the spindle, a ratchet reversibly and non-rotatably held on said spindle, and a pawl adapted to be pivoted to eitherv side of the case so as to hold the ratchet against rotation in one direction when the spindle is in. either of its alternative positions.

3. In a spring. balance, the combination of a case composed ofrelat'ively. thin sides and a bottom, said sides-having sl'ots therein extending to one end thereof, a drum in said case, a spindle for the drum carried by and rotatable in said slots, said spindle being removable sidewise fromsaid slots and provided with annular grooves for. receiving the slotsmargins, a springfor operating the drum connected to the spindle, and means to hold the spindle against rotation in one direction.

4:. In .a spring balance, the combination of a case comprising a body having sides and a bottom, and a top extendin between the sides and provided with depending lugs, a bolt extending across. the body and through said lugs and sides for securing the top to the sides, a spindle removably carried by said sides, a drum mounted on the spindle, a spring for operating the drum connected to the'spindle, a ratchet on said spindle, and a pawl pivotally' mounted. on said bolt for holding said ratchet against rotation in one direction.

5. In a spring balance, the combination of an open-ended case having sides with slots therein, a spindle rotatable in said slots and. having annular grooves for receiving the slotemargins, a drum comprising sides, bushings mounted around.- said spindle between the sides; of: the. body and the drum and provided with inwardly extending annular flanges-around which the drum-sides arerot-atably mounted, and. a spring for op crating the dr un. connected. to said; s indie; 6.v In. a spr ng balance, the. combination of. an: opemepded. case composed. of.-

and a bottom, the sides having slots therein applied to the ratchet to oppose the rotation extending to one end thereof, a spindle roof the spindle in said direction and to hold tateble in said slots and removable sidewise the spindle in the slots. 10 therefrom, a drum mounted on the spindle, Signed at New York, New York, this 23rd 5 a ratchet fixed to said spindle, a spring beday of July, 1923.

tween said drum and said spindle for roeating the drum in one direction, and a pawl CHARLES C. WHITE. 

